Interview · moment 7 of 14
Trump's Mysterious $135 Million and the Bayrock Money Trail
from Boss of Bosses (with Russ Baker) · #38
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
5 minGuest
Russ explains Sater's deferred sentencing, his FBI reporting on nuclear trafficking claims, his closeness with Trump (including chaperoning Don Jr. and Ivanka in Moscow), and the strange $135 million Trump reported as income in 2005 despite Atlantic City's collapse.
- 20:48US government suppressed information about Trump's financial dealings to allow Sater to conduct business ventures.
- 21:26Sater reported to the FBI daily and was described as extremely important for terrorism, national security, and organized crime intelligence.
- 22:13Bayrock, a real estate firm run by Sater, moved into Trump Tower and partnered with Trump on projects like the SoHo Hotel.
- 22:53Tim questions whether Bayrock was essentially a money laundering operation for Soviet ill-gotten gains.
- 23:21Bayrock received funding from an Icelandic company close to Putin and from people in Kazakhstan with money of unknown origin.
- 23:48Trump was in deep financial trouble after his failed Atlantic City ventures and banks stopped working with him.
- 24:43Trump reported earning $135 million in 2005 as salary—more than billionaire Robert Mercer made in his good years.
- 25:07This was actual reported income, not equity appreciation like Gates or other wealthy figures typically earn.
- 25:30With Atlantic City collapsed, the source of Trump's $135 million income remains unexplained.
- 25:43Tim connects the dots between Trump's financial trouble, Bayrock's Soviet-connected funding, and his mysterious $135 million income.